Bengals need just a quick glance around the NFL to put their main concern about another Trey Hendrickson contract to bed

It's not just a raise in salary Trey Hendrickson is seeking from the Cincinnati Bengals. The 30-year old All-Pro defensive end wants multiple years of security for him and his family, and per his impromptu press conference last week in the foreground of voluntary workouts, the front office isn't on the same page in terms of the length of a new deal. 

"It's one of those things that we're just not seeing eye-to-eye on the structure, and it seems that a shorter deal is something that they are pushing pretty hard," Hendrickson said on May 13. "That puts us in the same place I was in 2022 where I have to renegotiate the next year, because if goals are the same and playing at a better level than I did last year, then next year, we're just kicking the can down the road."

No one seems to know for sure if a "shorter deal" equates to just one or two years. The extension he signed in 2023 was for one year, so it stands to reason the club is now offering something similar, especially after Danielle Hunter agreed to a one-year deal two months ago.

In any case, Hendrickson's age is the most logical reason as to why he's not being offered the length he desires. Considering how he stacks up against other players with similar levels of experience, he has more of a leg to stand on than the team.

Trey Hendrickson named to elite group of players 30 and up

Pro Football Focus revealed their list of the top 30 players over the age of 30 entering the 2025 season and Hendrickson came in at No. 9. The names ahead of him all have great cases for their own ranking, and most of them also share a commonality.  

Derrick Henry (1), George Kittle (3), Chris Jones (4), Lane Johnson (5), Trent Williams (6), and Cameron Heyward (7) have all signed multi-year contracts that began during or past their age-30 season. Henry and Kittle, ages 31 and 32 respectively, signed their multi-year deals this offseason. 

Hendrickson absolutely belongs in the company of these great players, and he only turned 30 last December. All of the above were born before him. All of their teams either haven't regretted signing them to major deals, or didn't think twice about it this offseason.

Hendrickson’s future home may be uncertain, but his pass-rush production is not. He led the NFL in both pressures and sacks during the regular season and ranked fifth with a 90.4 pass-rush grade. Since arriving in Cincinnati, Hendrickson has consistently overwhelmed opposing offensive lines and has firmly earned elite status. - PFF's Dalton Wasserman

The only exceptions, coincidentally, are the two EDGEs ahead of Hendrickson in T.J. Watt (2) and Khalil Mack (8). Watt is pushing for a new contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, and Mack has signed two one-year deals in the last two years with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Perhaps that is what the Bengals can point to if their negotiations ever pick back up with Hendrickson, but in general, players who are at this level even on the other side of 30 typically stay at this level for a few more years. 

If that's the main concern for Cincinnati, some of the best teams in the NFL have proven it's not that strong of a red flag.